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Coupled Effects of Stress and Hydrogen on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Steels


EMSL Project ID
60607

Abstract

Hydrogen exhibits complex behaviors in materials because of its ability to donate all its electrons or to double their number, depending on the environment. The rich variety of H-induced processes is responsible for catastrophic failures of high-strength steels through hydrogen-assisted cracking. When steel is subjected simultaneously to an applied tensile stress and a corrosive, high-temperature aqueous medium, interplay of hydrogen and oxygen interactions with the alloy microstructure are thought to lead to intergranular stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The overarching goal of this research is to develop a predictive mechanistic understanding of how hydrogen, coupled with applied stress and intergranular oxidation, drives propagation of SCC in Fe-based alloys. This project will use a broad range of tools available at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and U.S. Department of Energy synchrotron facilities. A combination of cryogenic-transfer atom probe tomography, in situ electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray methods, and atomistic to continuum simulations, will be used to obtain mechanistic insight into how individual diffusion and oxidation events underpin mesoscale SCC behavior. This work will provide the scientific basis for tailoring the microstructure of metallic alloys used in nuclear and automotive applications to control the impact of coupled extreme environments of corrosion, stress, and temperature.

Project Details

Start Date
2022-11-07
End Date
2023-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Arun Devaraj
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Team Members

Tingkun Liu
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory